Friday, September 10, 2004

It seems that once a society evolves to a point where civilization reigns and higher education is fairly common, enlightened souls start preaching pacifism. They say we should be nice to our enemies and just try to accept them and, if they don't ask for help, we should mind our own business. On the surface, this sounds like a good, Christian idea. Turn the other cheek. If we are really nice to them they will be nice back to us. It's an attractive idea to simple minds.

What it fails to take into account is human nature after it has been put through the wringers of severe religious and political indoctrination. Take the referenced article. After being strong-armed by the Clinton administration, Israel was forced to reduce their security in exchange for empty promises of peace from the forces that inhabit Palestine. The leftist forces in Israel clamored that it wasn't enough and created the public image of a country divided. The result? An increase in terrorist attacks.

The terrorists attacking Israel don't see diplomacy as a cause, but an effect, and often an irrelevant effect at that. Their hatred for Jews and the nation of Israel defies objective reason at this point. The only good Jew is a dead Jew, in their eyes, and the only way to improve Israel is to obliterate it and all its inhabitants. And the only way their enemies will learn anything is by violence. Diplomacy is scorned as a waste of time.

Here is a very telling quote from the article. After several interviews, the consensus among the terrorists was determined to be the following:

"The disengagement from Gaza is proof of our victory. The fact that Sharon is willing to withdraw unconditionally is basically equivalent to raising a white flag and retreating. Only by force are we able to teach the other side what to do."

Hamas and similar groups are mostly comprised of people who have been taught from birth to hate the Jews and/or non-Muslims (aka "Infidels") in general. They have lived in close proximity to violence for their whole lives and, since they don't live in Israel, they have likely mostly seen only the damage done to their own people by the Jews. They hear enough one-sided accounts both of current events and history that the Jews have become dehumanized aggressors that must be eliminated.

These are not people who can be reasoned with. These are not people who are impressed by good works performed by any infidel. And they are representative of terrorists worldwide who assume the belief that the end justifies the means.

Consider the recent terrorist attack in Russia. The terrorists resorted to using children as hostages. They killed several of these children and even some of their own people. What sane person would do such a thing?

Who can justify the train bombings in Spain? Generally, military forces have their own transport and don't need to use public transportation. No one can deny that this attack was aimed at civilians.

The point here is that terrorists are people who will do anything -- anything -- to achieve the goal, whichever goal it might be. The goal is more important than their very lives. The goal is more important than the lives of others. Weakness and humility will only make them more aggressive and more daring in their tactics.

Side note: The Free Muslim Coalition Against Terrorism has offered an apology on behalf on Islam for the terrorist actions of its extremist members. Here is a copy of their apology. Here is a letter written by an Arab-American decrying both the media who cover up the link between Islamic extremists and terrorism, and the Muslim leaders who not only look the other way when faced with extremists within their congregations but also spew hatred from their pulpits and cause the formation of more extremists. Kudos to them for doing what several Muslim leaders cannot or will not do.

Let's go back to the "turn the other cheek" principle. Being tormented or killed for one's Christianity is good, if not always desired. However, most terrorists that you hear of today aren't killing people for their Christianity. They are killing for political causes, such as in Russia. Or because the victims or the victims' governments aren't faithful Muslims, such as the Hindus in Indonesia. Or because they believe the hedonistic culture of a few actually belongs to the many, such as in many western countries. Or because they object to supporting the war on terror, as in Spain. It is arguable that a significant number of those who died in the September 11, 2001 attacks were not Christians, and that there was a wide variety of cultures, moral standards, and nationalities encompassed by all the victims and potential victims. No one can reasonably claim that this was an attack upon any religion.

Pacifism will not appease terrorists. The only thing that will appease them is our death. Both showing weakness and choosing to take the “high road” by not fighting back are one and the same to these people, and either situation emboldens them to launch more attacks. When confronted by those who will stop at nothing to achieve their goals, the result of pacifism is not martyrdom, but suicide.

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Joke of the Week

One afternoon a lawyer was riding in his limousine when he saw two men along the roadside eating grass. Surprised, he ordered his driver to stop and he got out to investigate. He asked one man, "Why are you eating grass?"

"We don't have any money for food," the poor man replied. "We have to eat grass."

"Well, then, you can come with me to my house and I'll feed you" the lawyer said.

"But sir, I have a wife and two children with me. They are over there, under that tree."

"Bring them along" the lawyer replied. Turning to the other poor man he stated, "You come with us, too."

The second man, in a pitiful voice then said, "But sir, I also have a wife and SIX children with me!"

"Bring them all, as well," the lawyer answered.

They all entered the car, which was no easy task, even for a car as large as the limousine was.

Once underway, one of the poor fellows turned the lawyer and said, "Sir, you are too kind. "Thank you for taking all of us with you."

The lawyer replied, "Glad to do it. You'll really love my cabin in the country, the grass is almost a foot high."